
George Bush Intercontinental Airport, also known as Houston Intercontinental Airport, is an international airport in Houston, Texas, United States. The airport is located about 23 miles north of Downtown Houston and is the 15th busiest airport in the United States. The airport's IATA code is IAH, derived from the stylization of the airport's name as Intercontinental Airport of Houston.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | George Bush Intercontinental Airport |
| IATA Code | IAH |
| ICAO Code | KIAH |
| FAA LID | IAH |
| Location | Houston, Texas, United States |
| Year of Opening | 1969 |
| Renamed | 1997 |
| Renamed after | George H. W. Bush |
| Number of Runways | 5 |
| Area | 10,000 acres (40 km2) |
| Distance from Downtown Houston | 23 miles (37 km) |
| Transport Options | Vans, Public Bus Route 102, etc. |
| Airlines | United Airlines, Continental Airlines, Cayman Airways, etc. |
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What You'll Learn

George Bush Intercontinental Airport
In 1957, a group of Houston businessmen purchased the site for Bush Intercontinental Airport to preserve it until Houston could formulate a plan for a new airport to replace the William P. Hobby Airport (then known as Houston International Airport). The holding company for the land was named the Jet Era Ranch Corporation, but a typographical error transformed "Jet Era" into "Jetero", and the airport site became known as the Jetero airport site. In 1961, the name Jetero was dropped from official planning documents, but the airport's eastern entrance was named Jetero Boulevard.
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IAH is 23 miles from Downtown Houston
George Bush Intercontinental Airport, commonly referred to as IAH, is located about 23 miles (37 km) north of Downtown Houston. It is one of two major airports in Houston, the other being William P. Hobby Airport (HOU). IAH is a large airport, covering 10,000 acres (40 km2) of land and featuring five runways. It is a significant hub for United Airlines, and it also served as a hub for Continental Airlines and Texas International Airlines before they ceased operations.
IAH offers a range of dining options for travellers, including Starbucks, which has a pickup-only concept store in the airport that exclusively takes mobile orders through its app. Einstein Bros. Bagels and various Tex-Mex options are also available. The airport provides Wi-Fi internet access and retail stores, ensuring a pleasant experience for passengers.
In terms of transportation, IAH is easily accessible from Downtown Houston via multiple transport options. The public bus route 102 connects IAH to downtown locations, operating seven days a week from approximately 5 a.m. to midnight. Additionally, various hotels offer courtesy vans for their guests, and taxi services are also available.
IAH, or George Bush Intercontinental Airport, plays a crucial role in connecting Houston to the world. With its range of amenities and transportation options, it serves as a gateway for travellers to and from the city of Houston and its surrounding areas.
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IAH is the largest airport in Houston
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IATA: IAH, ICAO: KIAH, FAA LID: IAH), commonly called Houston International Airport or George Bush International Airport, is the largest airport in Houston. Initially named Houston Intercontinental Airport when it opened in 1969, it was renamed in 1997 in honour of George H. W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States and a resident of Houston.
IAH covers 10,000 acres (40 km2) of land and has five runways. It is located about 23 miles (37 km) north of Downtown Houston between Interstate 45 and Interstate 69/U.S. Highway 59 with direct access to the Hardy Toll Road expressway. The airport has scheduled flights to a large number of domestic and international destinations covering five continents. It is the busiest airport in Texas for international passenger traffic and, as of 2021, is the second busiest airport in Texas and the 15th busiest in the United States.
Houston Intercontinental is one of the largest passenger hubs for United Airlines and formerly served as a hub for Continental Airlines and Texas International Airlines. In 1990, Continental Airlines agreed to build its maintenance centre at the airport. In 1971, KLM introduced Boeing 747 services, and by 1974, Air France was operating four nonstop Boeing 747 flights a week to Paris and Mexico City.
IAH has five terminals connected by an automated people mover and underground train. The airport offers Wi-Fi, retail stores, and more than 50 food and beverage outlets, including Starbucks and Einstein Bros. Bagels. Various hotels and lodgings offer courtesy vans to and from the airport, and the public bus route 102 serves IAH and downtown locations.
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IAH is the 15th busiest airport in the US
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) is an international airport in Houston, Texas, United States. It is located about 23 miles (37 km) north of Downtown Houston between Interstate 45 and Interstate 69/U.S. Highway 59. The airport covers 10,000 acres (40 km2) of land and has five runways. IAH, also known as Houston International Airport or George Bush International Airport, is one of the largest passenger hubs for United Airlines. It serves the Greater Houston metropolitan area and offers scheduled flights to numerous domestic and international destinations across five continents.
Houston Intercontinental Airport, which opened in June 1969, was the original name of the airport. The IATA code IAH is derived from the stylization "Intercontinental Airport of Houston." In 1997, the airport was renamed in honour of George H.W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States and a Houston resident.
IAH is a significant aviation hub, ranking as the 15th busiest airport in the United States as of 2021. It is also the second-busiest airport in Texas and the busiest in the state for international passenger traffic. The airport accommodates a large volume of international and domestic flights, serving over 180 cities worldwide.
Houston's airport system, comprising Bush Intercontinental and William P. Hobby Airports, is the fourth-largest in the country. Bush Intercontinental Airport, in particular, handles a significant amount of air traffic, with more than 700 daily departures and 43 million domestic passengers in 2015. The airport provides a range of amenities for travellers, including Wi-Fi, retail stores, and a wide variety of food and beverage options.
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IAH has five runways
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) is an international airport in Houston, Texas, serving the Greater Houston metropolitan area. The airport is located about 23 miles (37 km) north of Downtown Houston and covers 10,000 acres (40 km2) of land.
IAH is one of the largest passenger hubs for United Airlines and has also served as a hub for several other airlines, including Continental Airlines, Cayman Airways, and Texas International Airlines. Over the years, various airlines have operated different types of aircraft into IAH, including Boeing 747s, McDonnell Douglas DC-10 wide-body jetliners, and Lockheed L-1011 TriStar wide-body jets.
The airport has a VOR station identified as IAH, located south of runway 33L. This runway has been the site of several notable incidents, including a crash in 1975 involving a Douglas DC-3 and an accident in 1990 involving a Grumman Gulfstream I. In 1996, a Continental Airlines flight landed on Runway 27 with its landing gear stowed, resulting in a belly slide but fortunately, no fatalities.
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Frequently asked questions
IAH stands for Intercontinental Airport of Houston.
The airport's full name is George Bush Intercontinental Airport. It was initially named Houston Intercontinental Airport when it opened in 1969, but it was renamed in 1997 in honour of George H.W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States and a resident of Houston.
The airport covers 10,000 acres (40 km2) of land and has five runways.
There are multiple transport options to get to and from the airport, including hotel courtesy vans, taxis, and the public bus route 102, which serves IAH and downtown locations.











































